Sand steaming device



April 6, 1965 L. B. WHITE SAND STEAMING DEVICE Filed March 14. 1962 INVENTOR. LYALL 8. WHITE jndrus Star/(e Arrom/EYs United States Patent O 3,176,680 SAND STEANHNG DEVICE Lyall B. White, Zephyrhills, Fla, assignor to L. B. White Company, Inc., La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 14, .1962, Ser. No. 179,639 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-2711) This invention relates to a device for steaming sand, soil or the like, or for preventing sand or the like from freezing when it is being used in a frigid environment. I

Present day building techniques permit winter construction in areas once thought too cold for work between late fall and early spring. It has been found that cement may be poured and then protected against the elements during setting so that the cement is not damaged by cold temperatures, snow and the like.

In the usual preparation of cement, sand is mixed with mortar. The sand is usually brought to the building site and then dumped in piles where it may be used as and when desired. It is important that the sand be in a thawed condition when it is utilized for cement mixing in frigid weather.

The present invention provides a novel structure for maintaining sand or other material in a usable condition for immediate use. Alternately, the device may be used to thaw the sand if it becomes frozen.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sand thawing device constructed in accordance with the invention with parts broken away; and

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the sand thawing device 1 is adapted to rest on the ground 2 or other suitable outdoor surface. Sand 3 is brought to the site and dumped over the device until the major portion of the latter is completely buried therein. The sand pile should preferably extend substantially above and to the sides of the thawer, as shown. One end of the thawer is left exposed.

To maintain sand 3 in usable condition over a period of extended cold temperatures, device 1 is adapted to produce steam which is ejected into the sand and filters therethrough. For this purpose, device 1 comprises an elongated base receptacle 4 for receiving and storing a quantity of water 5. Receptacle 4 is shown as having a flat bottom 6 with vertical triangular end walls extending above and joined by upwardly converging side walls 8. The entire receptacle is formed with a large open top so that in section it forms the base of a triangle as per FIG. 2.

An elongated closure roof or cap 9 is adapted to be removably fit over receptacle 4 to provide a hollow chamber 10 for steam 11. Cap member 9 is shown as providing the tapered peak or apex of the triangle and comprises fiat end walls 12. The distance between end walls 12 is greater than the distance between end walls 7. Cap 9 is thus longer than receptacle 4, for purposes to be described. Walls 12 join side walls 13 which converge and join along the top line 14. V

The walls 12 and 13 of chamber 10 correspond generally with walls 7 and 8, and are adapted to telescope downwardly over the latter so that they tightly and sealingly overlap. As shown Walls 12 and 13 are disposed outwardly of walls 7 and 8. However, reverse construction may be possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

3,176,680 Patented Apr. 7 6, 1965 The bottom edges of the cap walls are spaced a substantial distance above the bottom edges of the receptacle walls. This is provided by the height of the supporting triangular end walls 7 on which the cap rests.

A 'plurality of spaced outward corrugations 15 are ye tically disposed alongthe lower portion of walls 13. of chamber 10 .andprovide elongated steam vents which communicate between the steam chamber and the outside of the thawer.

In accordance with the invention, water 5 is heated to a sufiiciently high temperature to produce steam which fills the steam chamber. For this purpose, a hollow heating tube 16 extends longitudinally through water receptacle 4 and emerges at one end just beneath intermediate wall 7. The other end of tube 16 passes through outer end wall 7 and bends upwardly to form a chimney 17.

A gas burner 1%, or other suitable source of high temperature heat, is hung beneath the extension of cap 9 and faces the open end of tube 16. Although it is not desirable to bury the cap extension, burner 18 will be protected from sand by the overhang. The' heater will produce a flame which enters a portion of tube 16 and heats the air therein to a temperature sufiicient to cause water 5 to steam. The hot air in submerged tube 16 will rise along the tube, since the latter is tilted slightly upwardly from the horizontal, and will escape through chimney 17.

When chamber 10 fills with steam, the pressure therein will force steam downwardly and out through vents 15, where it will escape directly into sand 3 to thaw the latter.

Since vents 15 are between chamber it?! and the sand, once the adjacent sand becomes heated the steam will not condense into Water within the vents and be lost.

It has been found that the hot thawed sand produced by the steaming action is exceptionally well suited for mixing with mortar, since the mixture will set much more rapidly.

To simplify addition of water to receptacle 4, a closable filler tube 19 is disposed in the roof of chamber 10. In

addition, a closable drain tube 20 is disposed in receptacle 4.

The invention provides a simple but effective way of maintaining sand at usable temperatures in cold weather. The device is portable and may be moved from place to place at will.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claim particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

A steamer for sand or the like, comprising:

(a) an open-topped water receptacle having upwardly converging side walls and vertical triangular end walls extending above said side walls,

(b) a roof for said receptacle, said roof having triangular end walls joining upwardly converging side walls corresponding to the side walls of the receptacle to form a roof structure resting on the apexes of the triangular end walls of said receptacle to form a closed chamber,

(c) the adjacent side walls of said receptacle and said roof overlapping,

(d) at least one side wall of said steamer being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced elongated vents communicating, in the area of said overlapping, between said chamber and directly to the exterior of the steamer,

(e) and means for heating water in said receptacle to provide steam to fill said chamber and pass outwardly through said vents into the sand,

(f) the position of said vents between said chamber and the sand being such that, as the sand is heated, 2,030,555 2/36 Van Vorst et a1 126-3435 the steam will pass through the vents uncondensed. 2,322,350 6/43 Dewees 126271.1 X 2,723,496 11/55 Hallum 47-19 References Cited byfhe Examiner 2,839,332 6/58 Saclwtt 126-360 X v UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 O G PATENTS 263,049 8/82 Krehbiel 126369 120 90 4/5 U S S R 333,085 12/85 Roush et a1 47-19 776,926 12/04 Misener 126-369 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

898,641 9/08 Hart 126--271.1 X

1 27 514 1 French 2 3 30 10 PERCY PATRICK/Examiner- 

